Camaguey, Cuba, Aug 3 (ACN) Phase one of clinical trials on the first group of 44 children from 3 to 11 years of age with the Cuban vaccine Abdala raises expectations among the population in this eastern province.
A previous trial included two vaccination sessions for 300 kids between 12 and 18 years.
The current first stage will give way to a trial with another 300 children to reach a total of 600 kids in the study, which will prove the effectiveness of the vaccine to later expand its use in the country.
Edgar Lora, father of the child Fabio Lora, told ACN that he came early to vaccinate his son because he trusts the doctors and scientists who work to protect patients from the COVID-19.
Eleven-year-old Fabiana de la Caridad, accompanied by her mom, said she feels right after having her shot because she knows that the Cuban vaccine will help defeat the coronavirus. “I’m happy as I also encourage other kids to get vaccinated,” she said.
Fabiana’s mother Yarisa Medina stressed the efforts made by the Cuban government to protect the younger generations and the rest of the population.
All results of the trials on kids from 12 to 18 years of age have been good so far; all volunteers have responded favorably to the vaccination and no side effects have shown, said Sonia Resik, senior researcher with the public health intervention in Cuba with the Abdala vaccine.
A second dose of the vaccine will be administered to that group of children, said the scientist.
The initial immunization of 44 children from 3 to 11 years of age kicked off Tuesday in two healthcare centers of Camaguey city, whose results will be analyzed in a week time in order to possibly expand trials a larger number of kids.
The results of the two clinical trials will be released in October and September particularly related to safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine administered in a three-dose every 14-day scheme.
The clinical trial on children, known as Ismaelillo after one of the poems dedicated by Cuban poet Jose Marti to his son, aims at offering a safe vaccine to all Cuban children to get immunized against COVID-19.